Don Cornelius, the producer and television host who created the dance show “Soul Train”, was found dead at his mansion in Sherman Oaks, California with a gunshot wound to the head. The 75-year-old Don Cornelius was immediately taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and announced dead at 4:56 a.m. The Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter states, “It was reported as a suicide, a self-inflicted wound. I have investigators at the hospital”. Reportedly, one of Don Cornelius’s sons from his first marriage to wife Delores called 911 from Mr. Cornelius’s houses to report shots had been fired. When officials arrived, they found Mr. Cornelius lying lifeless on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. It is believed that Don Cornelius has suffered a stroke and had brain surgery in recent years which left him in a great deal of pain. The police have not found a suicide note and are talking to the 75-year-old's family about his mental state.

"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius commits suicide at his mansion in Sherman Oaks, California with a gunshot wound to the head

The news of Cornelius' death is a massive shock to his fans and colleagues

The police maintained a presence outside Don Cornelius's Mulholland Drive home after he apparently committed suicide in the early hours of the morning on 1 February 2012

Don Cornelius’s shocking dead prompted many people speak the influence of the great musician and his show Soul Train on the culture, music and the African-American community. The Soul Train, which was one of the longest-running syndicated shows in television history, importantly offered exposure to musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson in the 1970s and 1980s. Hearing on Don Cornelius’s death, many musicians pay tribute to the "Soul Train" creator. Grammy-winning musician/producer Quincy Jones told that “I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden death of my friend, colleague and business partner. Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business. Before MTV, there was ‘Soul Train.’ That will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius”

Don and Viktoria had a troubled marriage. Viktoria filed for divorce in 2007 after six years of marriage. The couple became legally divorced in 2009

During the divorce in 2009, Don Cornelius told the judge, “I am 72 years old. I have significant health issues. I want to finalize this divorce before I die”

Although the divorce was indeed finalized that year, Don’s ex-wife Viktoria Chapman-Cornelius whom he divorced after a bitter legal battle three years ago legally benefits from two lucrative life insurance, worthing hundreds of thousands of dollars

Viktoria Chapman will now get approximately $300,000 in benefits from two life insurance policies Cornelius had. The California law clearly states, “if a policyholder commits suicide within two years of the policy being issued, the company can refuse to pay out”

In 2008, Cornelius was arrested at his Mulholland Drive home on suspicion of domestic violence. His 2009 sentence and the ugly, public divorce caused Cornelius battled health problems in recent years. He suffered from a stroke and had brain surgery